Ideas sought for Carmi bicentennial

The City of Carmi is requesting public input, ideas and volunteers for the celebration of Carmi's founding, with the official bicentennial to be observed in 2016. Ideas can be submitted via the city's Website at cityofcarmi.com.

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By Special to the Times

The Carmi Times - Carmi, IL

By Special to the Times

Posted Nov. 9, 2013 at 10:00 AM

By Special to the Times
Posted Nov. 9, 2013 at 10:00 AM

The City of Carmi is requesting public input, ideas and volunteers for the celebration of Carmi's founding, with the official bicentennial to be observed in 2016. Ideas can be submitted via the city's Website at cityofcarmi.com.

The group hopes to get businesses and corporations involved, with celebrations spanning the next three years. A Website is expected to be online by Jan. 1, 2014, and people will be encouraged to sign up for updates regarding upcoming events, as well as information about the founding of Carmi.

An exploratory committee is being formed and will have its next meeting at 6 p.m. Jan. 13 at the Chamber of Commerce office in the City Building on Main Street. Anyone is welcome to attend and get involved, and an official steering committee and chairperson is expected to be voted on. More details will be released at that time.

The first settler to live in what is now Carmi is believed to be Isaac Veach, who built a cabin on the west side of the Little Wabash River in 1809, approximately where today's VFW stands, with several settlers following. But it wasn't until Feb. 8, 1816 when the city was officially incorporated, though it was already the unofficial seat of White County in 1815, being the only town there of any size.